Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 348 Nobel Prize winner? Selling Seoul with a bid! (Three updates in one, please vote at the beginning of the month!)

After leaving the Writers Association, Zhang Chao did not immediately set out to "put out the fire", but drove to the "South Beauty" in Guomao. He had a date with two beautiful ladies here tonight!
After arriving at the restaurant, Zhang Chao gave his name and was led by the waiter to the reserved private room. The two ladies were already seated, so Zhang Chao didn't hesitate to say hello and sat opposite them.

Looking at the two people in front of him, one smiling like a flower, the other reserved and gentle, Zhang Chao was also quite emotional, and said, "I haven't seen you two together in a few years. Tsk, Shiyu, how come you are still a head taller than Lanting?"

Lan Ting's smiling face immediately turned into an eggplant. She barely resisted the urge to pick up the spoon in front of her and hit Zhang Chao on the head. She said angrily, "If you can't talk, just say less!
Also, it was you who treated us to dinner, so why were you late?"

Zhang Chao explained with a smile: "I went to the Writers Association this afternoon and talked to the old men about a lot of things. Don't mention it anymore. It's so frustrating."

Lan Ting sighed and said, "Many people would beg for this opportunity but you think it's a shame..."

Zhang Chao said: "It's actually quite boring. They're all heavy smokers, and the whole room smells like cigarettes. The tea is not good either. It tastes like old tea that has been stored for who knows how many years. Every time I drink a sip of tea, I have to spit out several mouthfuls of tea foam.

If you want to go, I'll take you with me next time, and you're not allowed to run away halfway."

Lan Ting said disdainfully: "Hearing what you said, I really don't want to go... Hey, when are you going to Japan?"

Zhang Chao thought for a moment before saying, "I'll go back home for National Day, then fly directly from Xiamen to Japan, and stay there until the end of the month before returning to China - Hey, do you want me to bring anything back?"

These days, Japanese small electrical appliances, digital products, and cosmetics are very popular in China, and most relatives and friends who have gone to Japan will help them bring some back.

Lan Ting said cheerfully, "How dare I trouble you? You have important business to attend to in Japan - but if there is a signed book by Haruki Murakami or Kenzaburo Oe, I really want it!"

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "It seems that Murakami doesn't live in Japan? Oe Kenzaburo...Okay, I'll try my best."

Song Shiyu shook her head and said, "I don't have anything special I want..."

Lan Ting said, "Don't listen to her. She has really liked ZARD in the past two years. If you see any ZARD souvenirs, you can bring one to her."

At this point, Song Shiyu's eyes suddenly dimmed, and she said faintly: "Yes, now we can only buy souvenirs... Sakai Izumi just left a few months ago."

Zhang Chao was startled and asked, "Izumi Sakai? The Izumi Sakai who sang the ending song of Slam Dunk?"

Song Shiyu nodded and said, "Yes, 'My Friend'. She fell and hit her head in the hospital and passed away."

Zhang Chao felt a sense of empathy when he heard this. After all, "Slam Dunk" was his favorite cartoon when he was a teenager. Whether it was the three-pointer made by Kogure Mitsunobu that stayed in the air for a whole episode, or the national competition that will always be a regret, they were all written into his youth.

I didn't expect that the lead singer of the ending song would leave without any warning, which makes people feel that life is impermanent.

Fortunately, the waiter served the first dish at this time, and the atmosphere did not last too long. Zhang Chao raised the cup in front of him and said to the two: "Today is Lan Ting's first day of internship at "Tide Culture". I wish you good work and a step-by-step promotion!"

Song Shiyu covered her mouth and smiled, while Lan Ting directly complained, "How tacky!" But her face was full of smiles.

The two of them also raised their cups, and the three cups touched each other in the air, making a clinking sound, but it was not the sound of a shattered dream.

Lan Ting and Song Shiyu are both seniors this year, and this semester is the time for them to look for internships.

Song Shiyu followed the routine and, with her excellent academic performance, was assigned by the Central Conservatory of Music to the Yanjing Symphony Orchestra. For her major, this should be the best choice.

Lan Ting had her own plans. She rejected the arrangements made by the school and her family and directly submitted her resume and internship application to "Chaotide Culture" without even telling Zhang Chao.

The HR of Chaoxi Culture didn't know about her relationship with Zhang Chao, and decided to hire her after reading her resume. Zhang Chao didn't know until Ma Boyong told him on QQ that the author of "Chinese Shamatte Field Notes" was coming to the company for an internship.

The current "Chaotide Culture" is different from what it was back then. It is a hot cultural and creative brand. Many senior students from universities hope to intern at "Chaotide Culture". Yan University and Yanshi University, Zhang Chao's two "alma maters", both invited "Chaotide Culture" to set up stalls during this year's graduation season.

The position that Lan Ting applied for was an intern editor, which was one of the most popular positions. The reason why she was able to stand out from the fierce competition among thousands of people was not only because of her impressive resume, but also because she was an author whose work was pre-ordered for the inaugural issue of "Youth·Non-Fiction".

In this way, Lan Ting also came to Yanjing.

Although she did not take the initiative to tell Zhang Chao about this, Zhang Chao certainly could not pretend not to see it, so he simply asked Song Shiyu to join him in welcoming Lan Ting.

"South Beauty" is mainly a Sichuan restaurant. Dishes such as Maoxuewang, spicy chicken, and peppery chicken are served one after another. Soon the table becomes bustling with activity and the scene is "booming".

Lan Ting's mouth was red from eating so much that she kept saying "I can't stand it". She had to drink a mouthful of iced Kuole every once in a while to relieve the spiciness. Finally, she couldn't help asking, "You are from Fujian, why did you choose such a spicy restaurant?"

Zhang Chao laughed and said, "Look at Shiyu, she can eat spicy food without changing her expression. But you can't stand just a little bit of chili. There are a lot of spicy food lovers in the office. How can you, an intern, not fit in? This is also part of the internship!"

In fact, the "South Beauty" store in Guomao is positioned as a business restaurant. In order to cater to the tastes of diners, the food has been reduced in oil and spiciness, and a lot of expensive dishes have been added. However, for Lan Ting, who was born and raised in Fuhai and stayed in Fuhai to attend university, the impact is still a bit too strong.

Song Shiyu's face never turned red when eating spicy food, but when Zhang Chao said that, her face turned red. She quickly explained, "Two of my roommates from Sichuan often take us to eat hot pot, and we gradually got used to it..."

If you really can’t eat it, you can rinse it with tea.”

Lan Ting picked up a piece of tripe and ate it in one gulp. She then took a sip of iced cola and said, "It's spicy and fragrant, but the spiciness doesn't decrease much after rinsing it, and the fragrance is gone. It's better not to rinsing it."

Song Shiyu stopped trying to persuade Lan Ting. She looked around the room and said to Zhang Chao, "Actually, there's no need to go to such an expensive place. There are many small restaurants in Yanjing that serve delicious Sichuan cuisine."

Lan Ting fanned her mouth and said, "Don't feel sorry for him, he is the richest man!"

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "It's not about whether it's expensive or cheap. This store is very interesting, so I chose it specially. Maybe it will become a topic of conversation in the future!"

Lan Ting's eyes rolled around and she asked, "Are you talking about the son of the owner of this restaurant, the one who often appears on the entertainment page? Isn't he known as one of the 'Four Young Masters of Beijing'?"

Zhang Chao nodded and said, "Yeah... You're quite gossipy. Even the 'Four Young Masters of Beijing' know about it."

Lan Ting said: "Just read the news and you will know. Aren't you one of the 'Four Young Masters'? Young Master Zhang!"

Zhang Chao's mind went blank for a moment, and he asked quickly, "What? I'm the 'Fourth Young Master'?" This news was so powerful that Zhang Chao couldn't believe his ears for a moment.

Lan Ting looked at him strangely and continued, "Yes, you don't know? Recently, many people in the forums have said so. 'The Four Young Masters of Beijing' - living in Yanjing, born in the 80s, young, rich, driving luxury cars, dating female celebrities..."

Zhang Chao: "..." Why do I feel like it's reasonable for me to be selected...

Seeing his gloomy face, Lan Ting quickly explained: "Of course, not everyone agrees with this statement - after all, you are different from them. The other three are all second-generation rich people, and they don't know whether they have the ability or not.

You are on your own! And you are a writer, they are all rich men, there is a gap in level. So everyone is just joking on the forum, don't take it seriously. "

Zhang Chao thought this was a joke and said quickly, "Yes, yes, that's it! Lanting, let me assign you an important task!"

Lan Ting: “Hmm?” Aren’t we supposed to catch up with classmates today? Why are we suddenly assigned to work?

Zhang Chao said solemnly: "You must find a candidate who is more suitable than me in the entire network, and let Li Wandong from the IT department arrange people to cooperate with you, and promote him to be one of the 'Four Young Masters of Beijing', and squeeze me out of the queue.

This job is very important. If you do a good job, I will give you a bonus!"

Although Lan Ting did not refuse, she still wondered: "Why are you so resistant? Isn't this quite topical?"

Zhang Chao thought to himself, you don't know how bad the nickname "Four Young Masters of the Capital" is, how unlucky these four people were later, any fool who likes it can take it, but he still said righteously:

"As a successor born in New China and raised under the red flag, how can I be labeled as a 'young master', which is full of feudal class color? I am still a child with all-round development in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics and labor!"

Lan Ting and Song Shiyu were both speechless, knowing that Zhang Chao must be hiding something, but since Zhang Chao was unwilling to say it, they didn't dare to ask any further questions.

Zhang Chao had no intention of continuing to explain, so he changed the subject and asked Song Shiyu curiously, "What is your internship at the Yanjing Symphony Orchestra like? When can I see you give a concert?"

Song Shiyu explained helplessly: "How can it be my turn to play the piano on stage? I mainly follow the rehearsals and help with some administrative matters to gain work experience in the orchestra."

Zhang Chao asked, "After graduation, are you going to stay in Yanjing or go back to Fuhai?"

Song Shiyu's eyes wandered after hearing this, and after a long while she said, "As for the professional environment, it's definitely better here in Yanjing, but it's not that easy..."

Lan Ting was surprised and said, "But you were admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music and ranked among the top in our province. How could you not stay here?" Song Shiyu sighed and said, "Who can enter the Central Conservatory of Music without being among the top in the province? There are only three or four hundred people a year. How can Yanjing have so many orchestras? My mother said that if I go back, I can enter the Provincial Song and Dance Theater..."

Zhang Chao knew that what Song Shiyu said was true. Top students from the Central Conservatory of Music would naturally have no trouble finding a job, but joining a first-class symphony orchestra was another matter.

Lan Ting also sighed: "It's really interesting... When I was in college, I stayed in Fuhai and you came to Yanjing. Now I want to stay in Yanjing, but you want to go back to Fuhai."

Zhang Chao hurriedly asked, "Do you really want to stay in Yanjing?"

Lan Ting said: "Why, you are not welcome... I didn't say I would stay in Tide Culture."

Zhang Chao hesitated for a moment, but still said: "In fact, Yanjing is not that good... At least in the next few years, leaving Yanjing may not be a bad thing."

Seeing Song Shiyu and Lan Ting looking at him in confusion, Zhang Chao explained helplessly: "You will know when the time comes. After the Olympics, I will probably leave Yanjing and live somewhere else for a while."

What Zhang Chao was afraid of was nothing else but the smog in Yanjing.

When he came to Yanjing in 2004, Yanjing was cleaning up its environment for the Olympic Games. Although there was smog, it was far from being terrible, and the closer it got to the Olympic Games, the better.

After 2008, the air pollution in Yanjing and even the entire North China region ran wild like a wild horse, climbing all the way and breaking many records. At the worst time, it was even possible to "not see each other across the street", which was called "airpocalypse" by the media.

Zhang Chao was not interested in staying in Yanjing like this to be a human air purifier. However, it was not easy to say this directly to Song Shiyu and Lan Ting, so he could only remind them implicitly.

The three of them talked for a while, and Lan Ting asked, "Did you see Ma Yueran's speech today?"

Zhang Chao nodded and said, "Of course I saw it. He is a really nice guy. I didn't expect him to be so humble."

Lan Ting said with some regret: "Yes, it would be nice if you could meet - oh, I mean, it would be nice if you could meet without being disturbed by the media."

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "What can we do if we meet once?"

Lan Ting thought for a moment and said, "Just...chatting."

Zhang Chao smiled without changing his expression and asked, "What about now?"

Lan Ting suddenly realized and said, "Now it's equivalent to you already having a chat! In fact, although you and Academician Ma Yueran haven't met, it's better than meeting. The sparks generated by this collision may be more exciting than a real meeting!"

Zhang Chao said, "Yes. When I really met him, he was an old man in his 80s and I was a young man in my 20s. What could we talk about? It was just polite words. Now I feel much more comfortable."

Lan Ting asked: "So...so you were not prepared to meet him from the beginning?"

Zhang Chao shook his head and said, "That's not the case. To be more precise, I never thought about meeting him. It wasn't on my to-do list, but someone forced it into my schedule. Of course, I have the right to refuse - it's just that I chose the timing on purpose."

Lan Ting said: "Timing...your new novel?"

Zhang Chao smiled but said nothing.

Lan Ting said: "No wonder people in Tide Culture say that they can only learn from you. Oh, and what about those who say you are 'populist'? There is a lot of anger online now."

Zhang Chao's face turned pale when he heard this. He slapped his forehead exaggeratedly and said, "I'm worried too. These 'darlings' can't be beaten or scolded..."

His funny look made the two of them laugh out loud.

They chatted and laughed for a while. Zhang Chao saw that the time was almost up, so he waved to the waiter to bring the card machine to settle the bill. Unexpectedly, a man in a suit who looked like a manager ran over and said to Zhang Chao, "Our young master knows that it is Mr. Zhang who is coming to eat, so he specially said that your bill is waived. Hope you enjoy your meal!"

Zhang Chao: “…” The service staff in this kind of restaurant are more or less perceptive, so it’s not surprising that they recognized me, but the way he said this made me feel awkward.

Lan Ting couldn't help but burst into laughter. Even the usually reserved Song Shiyu couldn't help it. She covered her mouth and tried to hold back her laughter. Her shoulders trembled and her eyes curved into crescents.

Lan Ting finished laughing and said jokingly, "Mr. Zhang, the successor who is well-rounded in morals, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics and labor, you are so proud of yourself. Why don't you thank me?"

Zhang Chao's face darkened as he took out his credit card and handed it to the restaurant manager. He said, "I'm not used to being treated by people I don't know. Pay the money quickly."

After several attempts, the manager reluctantly swiped the card for Zhang Chao, and Zhang Chao finally felt relieved. He then fled the restaurant with Song Shiyu and Lan Ting.

Tonight would have been perfect if he didn't know that he was one of the "Four Young Masters of Beijing".

After sending Song Shiyu and Lan Ting back, Zhang Chao felt completely relaxed physically and mentally. The meal didn't take long, but it was the happiest meal he had had in a while. He didn't have to choose his words carefully, let alone engage in intrigue.

Many times, Zhang Chao himself forgets that he is now in his 20s, not 40 - this is the sequelae of always getting along with older people.

When I got home, it was already dark, and the moonlight, wrapped in the coolness of early autumn, came in through the window. Standing by the window, Chaoyang Park downstairs looked like a crumpled piece of blue velvet, and the neon lights of the East Third Ring Road in the northwest were condensed into a warm mist...

Zhang Chao finished a glass of ice water and finally made up his mind. He took out his cell phone and dialed a number: "Hello... It's me, Zhang Chao... I have a fortune for you, do you dare to answer it?"

In this "battle", Zhang Chao decided to "fight high and high"!
……

"So, do you think Pamuk's criticism of you is biased?" Li Dong, a reporter from Yanjing Youth Daily, sat opposite Zhang Chao and asked the most crucial question of the day.

This was a very formal interview, which took place in a special interview room of the Yenching Youth Daily. There were not only reporters but also photographers present. Important reports of the Yenching Youth Daily would not only be published in newspapers, but would also usually be broadcast on Yenching TV on the day of publication.

Zhang Chao said calmly: "I need to correct him. He is not biased, but he is furious - although I don't want to describe such a great writer in this way, especially when I fully recognize his literary creation.

During my visit to Xiamen University, I specifically talked to my classmates about Pamuk. I think he is one of the greatest novelists of our time. But what he said this time was not only indecent, but also a bit "frustrated."

Li Dong showed a surprised look on his face and said, "I didn't expect you to use such fierce words to hit back at Pamuk - he is the winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature!"

Zhang Chao showed a sarcastic smile on his face, and said calmly: "Yes, it is precisely because he is the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature that he is particularly 'furious' - in two weeks, the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature will be announced.

In Mr. Pamuk's eyes, the shelf life of the Nobel Prize in Literature is only about one year. He has to exchange it for enough voice before the medal starts to smell rot, so that the feeling of being the center of attention will not disappear immediately.

In my opinion, although Mr. Pamuk is smart enough to turn the thousand-year-old city of Istanbul into one masterpiece after another, he is not tough enough to resist the temptation of a Nobel Prize medal.

To some extent, I should apologize to him. After all, the marginalization of literature is a trend all over the world. How can we allow the already thin spotlight to be removed from the great Nobel Prize winner in literature? "

When Li Dong heard this, he was stunned - when he received a call from Zhang Chao last night, Zhang Chao said that he would formally respond to Pamuk's criticism of him today, and asked him if he had the courage to publish the full text because the words would be quite intense.

Generally speaking, Chinese media are reluctant to offend Nobel Prize winners for no reason, especially writers like Pamuk, who have intricate interest ties with domestic publishing houses in terms of publishing books, invitations to give speeches, etc.

But the temptation from Zhang Chao was too great, and Li Dong agreed after consulting the newspaper's leaders. He originally thought that no matter how intense Zhang Chao was, his level would not exceed the one Bai Yansong interviewed him with on the "Face to Face" column a few days ago.

I didn't expect Zhang Chao to start with full firepower and full of sarcasm. How could this be an ordinary debate? This was a personal grudge!
He didn't know that this was Zhang Chao's strategy this time - attack with a high stakes attack!
This group of people in China is not worth his attention at the moment, and the targets are too scattered. Instead of fighting them on the ground in newspapers or on TV, it is better to continue to internationalize this debate.

This not only diverts the attention of readers and book fans, but also brings the focus back on track.

Li Dong was sweating profusely in his heart, but since Zhang Chao was sitting in front of him, he naturally did not have the initiative, so he could only continue to ask, "Maybe Mr. Pamuk did not mean this? Maybe there is a misunderstanding between you two?"

Zhang Chao said: "There is no misunderstanding. I read the entire manuscript of his speech and asked a colleague to translate it for me in case of misunderstanding. What he said was just like his novels, precise, profound and full of personal style."

Li Dong asked: "So, you do think Mr. Pamuk's motives are impure?"

Zhang Chao nodded and said, “That’s what happened - let’s look at the timeline. The speech he criticized me was on September 9, and the Nobel Prize in Literature will be announced on October 12. When some people suddenly discover that there is a new competitor for the throne of cultural arbitrator - this is more panic than the walls of Constantinople being breached.

Mr. Pamuk accused my resistance of confirming the victory of Orientalism, a statement that itself reeked of the Stockholm Prize Hall in Sweden. Ultimately, he still placed the award above literature and subjected me to moral judgment with the arrogance of a winner.

At this time, Li Dong finally realized that Zhang Chao was really a little angry.

(End of this chapter)